Lawson English wrote:
> Hi! I'm trying to brush up on my Japanese by watching lots of anime. (I
> happen to like anime so..) and I'm trying to understand the words to the
> songs.
>
> This verse from Naruto is confusing to me, however:
>
> 「踏み込むぜアクセル」(fumikomu ze akuseru)
>
> I understand that it roughly means "Step hard on the accelerator" but
> what does 「ぜ」 mean? Is this a variation of 「て」that is used to make
> the song sound nicer (like using wo instead of o) or is it an unusual
> particle or what?
>
> Thanks very much.
>
> Lawson English


I think that there are two points here.

1. What is the word "ze"?  What does it exactly mean?
2. Why is the word "ze"  being placed in that position, i.e. in the
    middle of the sentence?

My answer:
[1].
Grammatically speaking, the particle "ze" is "zoe" originally. Which
is used as to remind someone of something and to be emphasized.

<xmp>
それは昔のことだぞえ。(soreha mukashi no koto da zoe.)　　
That is a thousand year ago. Forget it!
</xmp>

The word "ze"or the person who uses this word  is rather rough.
And usually used by only a man (nowadays it is used usually among
high-school bad girls). Like (but bad words)

<xmp>
 行こうぜ。なにタラタラやってんだよ。
</xmp>

[2].
Because placing "ze" in that position you can express your emotion.
In that sentence the important element is express how deeply the
speaker is headding for. Like Latin language, the most important thing
is put in the head of sentence. Of course grammatically "accelerator"
is an object there, but that is not so important to be compared with
the speaker's will. The situation around him is hard and tough, but he
dares to go for it. That is what that sentence would express.

<xmp>
買うぜ！PS２。
</xmp>

The sentence above the speaker insists on getting the player Play
Station II, even early in the morning or something.

In modern real life usage, "ze" sounds a bit snobbish and old.
Contemporaly use is "de" rather than "ze",  which sounds real rough.
Comparing to "de",  the word  "ze" is for boys of junior high school.

<xmp>
買うで！PS2。
or
買ったるで！PS２。
</xmp>